Millstream, Nova Scotia
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- Official Name: Millstream
- Geographic Feature Type Category: Populated Place
- Geographic Feature Type: Community
- Latitude / Longitude: 45.448723, -62.650331
- NTS Map Number: 011E07
- 1879 Pictou County Atlas: Section 16
- Nova Scotia Land Grant Map Number: Crown Land Grant Map 087
- Nova Scotia 1:10k Topographic Map Number: 1045400062600 (Bridgeville)
Millstream is a rural community located north of Centredale and west of Springville .
In 1878 there was a large saw mill, a grain mill and a furniture factory located here. The East Branch of East River has many small brooks such as Mill Stream which flows from Grant’s Lake and Lime Brook which flows through Springville.
Among early settlers were Mrs. Baxter Campbell and Joseph H. Grant. James Grant, from Urquhart, Scotland who was one of the passengers aboard the Hector, had first settled in Kings County.
He moved from there and settled at Mill Stream in 1790. He erected a mill on a stream issuing from Grant’s Lake on a site some twenty rods further down than the one later occupied by Grant’s Mill. This was the first regular grist mill on the East River.
“Millstream gave the County, and the whole of British North America, its first oatmeal mill. And when we consider the place occupied by oatmeal, not only on the breakfast table of the Scot, but at the morning meal of every lover of an appetizing dish, we will all agree not only did Millstream play a prominent part at the beginning of things, but that it is entitled to worthy mention in any and all historical records of those events.” R. H. Ward – Farms and Farmers of Pictou County
A log church was built in 1790 and served the people before St. Columbia and St. Paul’s churches were built.
Parts of the original stone foundation for the Mill furniture factory exists and can be found by walking along Millstream Brook.
When James Grant died in February, 1822, there were twelve families living at Mill Stream and Lime Brook. The names of John G. Grant and William Grant as farmers and proprietors of a sawmill and tannery. There was also a blacksmith and carriage shop located in the community.
Farms and Farmers of Pictou County is a collection of articles written by by R. H. Ward between 1919 and 1922 that showcases some of the many farms and farmers in Millstream during 1914-1922.
Stan Roger’s (famous Maritime Singer) father and uncles operated a mill called Rogers Mills here during the 30s and 40s.
Dr. William R. Grant who was born in 1811 and died in Philadelphia in 1852 was a distinguished physician and surgeon.
The McCulloch Centre provides a good document with more specifics on the history of the Millstream Grants and the people involved. http://haggis.mccullochcentre.ca/document/2395
[Source: Places of Nova Scotia – C. Bruce Fergusson / TrailPeak.com / McCullochCentre.ca ]
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